President Bill Vermouth welcomed all to the December 13th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. He asked members of the Senior Gift Committee to welcome members and guests to the meeting. <ED NOTE: the committee is asked to practice and will be trying again next week.> For the invocation, Frank Rucker offered the following invocation:
With our friends beside us,
And no person beneath us,
With the bonds of Rotary Between us,
And our worries behind us,
With our goals before us,
And no task beyond us,
With a thirst for knowledge,
And a dream of a Polio free world,
We are thankful for our Rotary friends and the meal we are about to share.
This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to Phil Steckler and Cindy Twombly.
As a luncheon chicken cheese casserole, pork loin, rice, tofu, corn, salad, bread and brownies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
GUESTS: Cindy Twombly and Kelly Dias (speaker).
TRIVIA QUESTION
Who wrote Jingle Bells?
(Answer below.)
SONG
For our weekly song, Cindy Jerome led a rendition of “Jingle Bells.”
ROTARY MINUTE
For our Rotary Minute, President Bill Vermouth talked about the two ways someone can receive a Paul Harris Award. Either by contributing $1000 to Rotary Foundation <ED NOTE: the club will match a donation of up to $50 for every member participating in a Rotary project> or by being recognized by the club for extraordinary service.
Rhonda Calhoun was recognized for her years of serving as club treasurer and presented with a Paul Harris Award.
At our December 20th meeting, John Mabie will tell a joke or lead us in song and Bill McKim will offer a Rotary Minute.
NOTE: 2018-19 weekly assignments are posted on club website.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
12/20 – TBA, “With Interest – the 1926 Vermont Peoples National Bank”
12/27 – Elliott Greenblatt, AARP
01/03 – Tim Weed, author, “Field Guide to Murder & Fly Fishing”
NOTE: 2018-19 weekly assignments are posted on club website.
REMINDERS
Bottles and cans can be brought to Putney Road redemption center to benefit Pure Water for the World. Please remember to inform the staff that the bottles and cans should be credited to the club.
If you like this newsletter, brag at next Club meeting.
So far, still only FOUR.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There are only about 75 trees left to sell.
Don’t forget to sign up for two shifts to sell Xmas trees. The most current list can be found on club website. If you have any questions, contact George Weir
Bird seed wreaths are on sale at Vermont Artisans for $20 each. Get your quickly because they are flying off the shelf.
Less than 20 pumpkin pies remain to be sold. If you want a pie, contact Marty Cohn and it will be available at next week’s club meeting.
We are all set for the next Seasonal Overflow Shelter meal on 12/19; BMH has donated the meal.
The next VT Foodbank project will take place on January 12, 2019. Milk and paper plates are needed. For more info, contact Stan Nowakowski.
350 gifts for seniors were delivered last week following our club meeting.
$600 was raised for “Feed the Thousands” from last week’s fund raiser.
FINES
Dart Everett was fined for not knowing the correct birthday of Phil Steckler.
BRAGS
Dave Twombly – for his wife, Cindy, celebrating her birthday.
Dave Twombly – for his wife, Cindy, retiring from VT Dept. of Health after 19 years.
George Weir – for all the tree movers.
George Weir – for all the family members and student Rotarians who are helping tree sales.
George Weir – for Steve Gordon, Cathy Coonan, and Rick Manson braving the cold and only selling one tree.
Bill Vermouth – for Steve Gordon bringing his wife, Sharon, to his tree sale shift.
Frank Weir – for Greg Worden and his leadership in selling bird wreaths.
Jeff Morse – for the club’s support of Feed the Thousands.
Dart Everett – for his grandson celebrating his 4th birthday.
Liz Harrison – for Marty Cohn and the weekly club bulletin.
Liz Harrison – for BMH’s care of her son.
Liz Harrison – for Meg Donahue delivering food for her son that he likes.
Rhonda Calhoun – for her tree shift partner, Jerry Theberge.
Jerry Theberge – for Dave Twombly switching his tree shift with him.
Jerry Theberge – for his tree shift partner, Rhonda Calhoun.
Jerry Theberge – for George Weir’s efforts for this year’s tree sales.
Lisa Mendelsund – for Kelli Dias and Academy School.
Al Jerard – for Academy School which he graduated in 1947 and now has grandchildren attending.
Ron Stahley – for the leadership of Kelli Dias.
Tom French – for his granddaughter, Olivia Apps, continued success with the Canadian Women Rugby team.
Lisa Mendelsund presented Principal Kelli Dias who told us about the excellent work being done for children at Academy School. To learn more, click here.
Rotary Cares - TV Show or Podcast
Rotary Cares, Episode 12 – Community Service
In episode 12 of Rotary Cares, Brattleboro Rotary Club past president Marty Cohn talks about Rotary local community projects with Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club’s Ali Barry and Brattleboro Rotary Club’s Stan Nowakowski. Produced in the studio of Brattleboro Community Television.
Past President Martin Cohn who attempts to give a gist of the meeting respectfully submitted this bulletin. However, it is always better to attend. If you have any complaints about the contents of this bulletin...
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION
“Jingle Bells,” the now world famous holiday tune, was composed at the Simpson Tavern in Medford, Massachusetts in 1850 by James Pierpont (1822-1893). The tavern stood at the site which is now 19 High Street in Medford Square. The song was composed in the presence of Mrs. Otis Waterman, who later verified the location of the song’s composition. In 1857, James Pierpont, while living in Georgia, copyrighted “Jingle Bells.” The lyrics of the song tell of the sleigh rides held on Salem Street in the early 1800s.
